Behavioral and Morphological Correlates of Male Dominance and Courtship Persistence in the Blister Beetle Epicauta pennsylvanica (Coleoptera: Meloidae)

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Abstract
All encounters between males of E. pennsylvanica involve a fight or chase. Large males generally force smaller males to retreat. Large males are more persistent in courtship and more successful at obtaining mates. Male courtship persistence also correlates with the diameter of the antennae, a sexually selected character. Mating males have antennae of greater diameter than nonmating males. A positive linear association exists between male and female weight for mating pairs.